The mother of a child with epilepsy pressed Ben Carson to voice his stance on medical marijuana in Panora Wednesday.

During a Q and A, the former-brain-surgeon-turned-Republican-presidential-candidate offered a couple of sentences stating that he approves of cannabis for medical use. Then he focused his attention on staunch opposition to drugs like marijuana and heroin for recreational use, emphasizing that he would seal the border with Mexico to prevent drug trafficking into the United States.

"Medical marijuana has proven its benefit and it should be rescheduled, there’s no question about that," Carson said. He added, “There’s a big difference between what she’s talking about and legalizing marijuana. I don’t want to do that.”

The marijuana question was one of half a dozen Carson answered after a speech in Panora, followed by three other campaign stops Wednesday.

Roxanne Cogil, a Jamaica, Ia., resident who asked the question, said she was pleased Carson supports medical marijuana but was disappointed by the response.

"He went right into war on drugs, but that had nothing to do with my question, and it has nothing to do with seeking medical treatment for my daughter," she said.

CARSON EARLIER ON WEDNESDAY:

Cogil said she also opposes recreational marijuana but hoped Carson would be more outspoken about increasing access to medical cannabis.

She identified as an undecided voter who appreciates Carson's Christian values as well as his medical expertise.

Her daughter, Rachel, underwent a hemispherectomy, a surgical procedure Carson helped perfect, and it relieved Rachel of seizures for several years.

Now the seizures have returned, and Cogil says Rachel, 11, should have access to cannabis (often distributed in an oil form) based on reports that say it helps curb seizures.

Last year, Iowa lawmakers passed a limited bill to legalize possession of a marijuana extract for people with severe epilepsy. Critics say the law is practically useless, because it provides no legal method to distribute the oil.

When questioned by The Des Moines Register later Wednesday, Carson declined to share specifics on how he would push for medical marijuana laws but said it would be "easy" on the Federal level.

"These are easy things and it goes back to the whole concept of creating efficiency in government," he said.

About the events

SETTINGS: A community center in Panora; a cafe in Winterset; an event space at Central College in Pella

CROWD: About 175 in Panora; nearly 100 for the initial event in Winterset, where a second Q and A took place for roughly 50 people who could not fit in the first event; roughly 350 in Pella

REACTION: A quiet crowd listened attentively in Panora, with some applause and many questions; attendees in Winterset were livelier, laughing loudly at jokes and offering more applause for Carson; attendees in Pella remained quiet for a 50-minute speech that won Carson a standing ovation.

WHAT'S NEXT: The three public stops Wednesday are part of a two-day swing in Iowa. He plans to attend three events Thursday in Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Bettendorf. He will return to Iowa for public events Sunday and Monday.